Friday, September 30, 2016

Technology allows us the opportunity to connect with anyone, anywhere in the world -- unlocking an enormous opportunity for business owners worldwide to grow like never before.

We have a new level of power that's just waiting to be leveraged. It's the power of the cloud, and once fully utilized, will change how global small businesses operate.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses will be able to monitor the locations and activity of every physical asset, from the parcels shipped by a boutique craft seller to the widgets installed by tradies. But it’s not simply going to be about location and whether the device is working or not.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Let's face it. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will boost exports, help us shape the rules of the global economy, and create jobs. Then why are we stalling on passing TPP and why are both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton against it?

According to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, leaders from several TPP trading partners have made it clear that a U.S. failure to ratify the deal before President Obama leaves office “will require them to hedge their bets and consider closer relations with others in the region” like China.

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said small- to medium-sized businesses are the “biggest beneficiaries” of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and that failing to ratify the deal would broadly hurt the U.S.'s reputation in the rapidly growing Pacific region.

Fact: 98% of U.S. exporters are small businesses and they account for more than 1/3 of U.S. exports.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

According to a survey commissioned by FedEx Corp. and conducted by research firm Morning Consult LLC:

About 65 percent of small businesses that engage in international trade report increases in revenue, compared with 46 percent of small businesses that do not trade, according to the survey. Small businesses that trade are also 20 percent more likely to say they are hiring more employees.

Friday, September 23, 2016

The two main candidates for USA president both have it wrong. Trade is good for us. I'm pro-trade. Even Nobel-prize winning economist Milton Friedman said:

"The social and moral issues are all on the side of free trade. And it is you, and people like you [a union official that challenged him on his bid to eliminate all tariffs over five years], who introduce protection who are the ones who are violating fundamental moral and social issues."

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Oh come now. You may think that Asian and European markets are the best and most prosperous markets to enter when expanding your business internationally. Not according to a recent report, "Winning in the Americas."

The report, co-authored by the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) and TradeUp Capital Fund, a premier fundraising platform for globalizing companies, concludes that the best opportunities for U.S. middle market companies (those with annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion) lies in Latin America.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

There are many questions you need to address before you begin an import process. Details such as, which country should you import from; how do you find a reputable supplier; and how do you know what you don’t know when it comes to compliance issues?

Friday, September 16, 2016

Ouch. A glitch with global online payment company PayPal has hit a number of New Zealand small businesses in their wallets.

Here's what one small business owner says:

"A lot of people don't trust PayPal anymore. For me its not about screw-ups, technical screw-ups happen all the time, you can't get angry - it's just the society we live in. But it's the way the company has reacted and I don't think I've ever seen such a poor reaction from a massive company to its clients. We just don't feel like they care."

Thursday, September 15, 2016

In the UK, who are you going to call when business gets tough (and don't think Ghostbusters!)? We're not talking about about anxiety caused by losing one big customer; rather, SMEs are more concerned with cash flow problems and tough competition from emerging markets.

The majority of SMEs (55 per cent) find cash flow as the biggest obstacle for business growth and more than 40 per cent indicate an increase in working capital needs compared to last year.

The survey examines the preferences of more than 1,800 SMEs in the UK, US, Germany, France and Italy for improving working capital efficiency, examining trends associated with economic and political factors, financing, working capital deployment and supplier-buyer relationships.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Alison Larson is an international business development consultant, founder of WorldBlazer Consulting LLC, and coach who works with fashion companies to launch, develop and/or dramatically improve their brand's presence and overall business in international markets around the world.

Prior to establishing her consulting business, Alison worked for 23 years in various executive positions at Carter's and OshKosh B'Gosh where she was responsible for global business development of the companies' various brands in over 40 developed and emerging markets.

She has spent her life traveling and working abroad and has lived in the USA, Italy, the UK and Belgium. Alison has an MBA in International Business from NYU and Executive Certificates in Global Negotiations, Cross Cultural Communication and Managing Conflict with a Global Mindset from Thunderbird Global Business School.

If that is not enough, Alison is conversant in four languages and enjoys sailing, skiing, painting and creating jewelry in her spare time.

Friday, September 09, 2016

Facebook's new tool is aimed at providing the tools to help mom-and-pop stores the chance to reach a much wider audience: global.

Businesses can use the new feature by going to Facebook's Lookalike Audiences tool, which recommended new audiences to business owners in their own countries but will now also offer information on international audiences.

This eliminates the need for SMEs to do exhaustive market research, making the step to go global a lot more efficient.

Thursday, September 08, 2016

The world famous Global Small Business Forum 2016 is OPEN for registration!The 2nd annual event will be held on Friday, October 21st at 70 West Madison Street in the heart of downtown Chicago. This year’s theme is: Make the World Your Business! We have an unbelievable lineup of global business experts and business owners who will be sharing their secrets to international business success. Here's a preview:

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

The U.S. Small Business Administration remains committed to ensuring small firms in Colorado and across the U.S. have the tools and resources they need to take their business global. In this example, they have awarded CO state $186,140 through its State Trade Expansion Program. Launched in 2011, this program allows 56 U.S. entities to compete for federal matching-fund awards that help small businesses start or expand export activities.

With the help of STEP funds, Gold [Andrew Gold, president and founder of Aircraft Technical Book Co., a small business based in Tabernash, Colorado] attended a trade show in India and engaged online resources in search of new customers and partnerships. Today, the nine-person company is expanding to develop a new certification for aviation and aerospace avionics technicians in the U.S. and in Europe and in turn setting up ATBC to expand to serve a new untapped market.

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

The glass-bottom suspension bridge in China is 430 meters (1,410 feet) and hovers above a valley with a drop of some 300 meters in Zhangjiajie. It attracts thousands of visitors every day.

“We thought people would be afraid to walk on it, but today it’s simply unbelievable. I’ve never designed anything on which so many people go, as if they were zombies,” says Israeli architect Haim Dotan, about the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, in southern China’s Hunan Province.

Friday, September 02, 2016

Snowboard firm Gilson Boards, known as Your American Snowboard Company, started three years ago with three people, manufacturing snowboards on a former dairy farm.

The company has since grown to 16 employees, who helped the company build and sell more than 1,000 boards this season from Gilson’s, a 5,000-square-foot facility near New Berlin. Sales have increased an average of 200 percent a year.

In 2015, the company started shipping overseas and now ships orders to: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, England, France, Italy and Switzerland. Overseas sales make up about 15 percent of the company’s business, according to the owner of the firm, Nick Gilson.

Thursday, September 01, 2016

Despite technology removing barriers to overseas expansion, it appears that SME owners in Australia and New Zealand are not yet convinced of the benefits. Recent data from Bentleys, an accounting and business advisory firm, found that only 19% of Australian and New Zealand businesses operated in overseas markets.

Why is that? Are they risk-adverse? Do they lack interest? Are they underestimating the benefits to going global?

What's holding SMEs back? What's needed to get them going in the global marketplace?

ABOUT GSBB

LAUREL DELANEY

The Global Small Business Blog (GSBB) was founded on July 20, 2004 by Laurel Delaney (pictured) for the purpose of helping entrepreneurs and small businesses expand their businesses internationally. It is ranked No. 1 in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. Learn more about Laureland visit her company GlobeTrade.com.

Subscribe For Free

Follow GSBB by Email For Free

Latest Feature Article

Sign Up to Learn More About our 10/18/19 Forum!

Translate Blog!

Five Star Reviews on Exporting Books!

2nd Edition Available NOW (2016) and endorsed by Jim Collins!

"Good to Great" best-selling author Jim Collins says, "Laurel Delaney writes in a tremendous spirit of service to entrepreneurial and small business leaders navigating the opportunities of globalization. Whether leading a fresh startup, a small business, or an entrepreneurial growth company seeking greatness, the question of whether―and how―to go global must be addressed. Delaney shows yet again her passionate dedication to serving her readers with deeply practical guidance.”